Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-12
2004-04-27
Sherry, Michael (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C439S076100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06728110
ABSTRACT:
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No.2001-114148 filed Apr. 12, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular electronic device in which a case that houses a circuit board and a connector, and brackets for attaching the case to a vehicle are formed integrally with each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicular electronic device according to the related art will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS.
1
(
a
) and
1
(
b
) are views showing a manner of attaching a vehicular electronic device to a frame of a vehicle. The direction of the arrow E indicates the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In
FIG. 1
, (
a
) is a plan view, and (
b
) is a view looking in the direction of the arrow E.
FIG. 6
is an exploded perspective view of a conventional vehicular electronic device.
FIG. 7
is a section view of the conventional vehicular electronic device, taken along the line B—B of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a view showing a state where the conventional vehicular electronic device is broken by an impact load.
The vehicular electronic device is configured by a case
91
made of an aluminum die casting, a printed circuit board
2
, a lid
3
, and a connector
4
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the vehicular electronic device is attached to a frame
80
of the floor of a vehicle.
The case
91
is made of a light aluminum die casting which has a function of electromagnetically shielding the printed circuit board
2
, and which prevents the main unit of the electronic apparatus from being damaged in a collision of the vehicle. A space for housing the printed circuit board
2
and the like is formed inside the case
91
. A cutaway
121
through which the connector
4
is to be passed is formed in one of four side walls
12
. Three brackets
15
for attaching the vehicular electronic device to the frame
80
of the vehicle are extended from the outer faces of the side walls
12
of the case
91
. Each of the brackets
15
has an abutting face
17
which is to abut against the frame
80
of the vehicle, and an attachment hole
16
through which an attachment screw
85
is to be passed.
In the printed circuit board
2
, the external shape has dimensions which allow the board to be housed in the space of the case
91
, attachment holes
23
are formed respectively in the four corners at the same intervals as those of screw holes
14
of the case
91
, and copper patterns are formed on both the faces. An acceleration sensor
21
and another electronic component
22
are mounted on the upper face (on the side of the top plate
5
of the case) of the printed circuit board
2
.
The lid
3
is configured by a steel plate. In the lid, the external shape has dimensions which allow the lid to be housed in the space of the case
91
, attachment holes
24
through which screws are to be passed are formed respectively in the four corners at the same intervals as those of the screw holes
14
of the case. A rib
31
which is slightly raised is formed on the whole periphery of the lid
3
. The lid exerts functions of dustproof and electromagnetic shielding on electronic circuits, and prevents the copper patterns and the components from being damaged by an external force.
The connector
4
is an output terminal through which an ignition command generated by the acceleration sensor
21
or the other electronic component
22
is transmitted to a gas generator of an air bag.
Next, the assembly structure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 7
is a section view of the conventional vehicular electronic device, taken along the line B—B of FIG.
6
.
The printed circuit board
2
abuts against mounting faces
13
in a state where the face on which the acceleration sensor
21
, the other electronic component
22
, and the connector
4
are mounted is opposed to the top plate
5
. The connector
4
is engaged with the cutaway
121
of the case. An end portion
31
a
of the rib
31
of the lid
3
abuts against the printed circuit board
2
. The case
91
, the printed circuit board
2
, and the lid
3
are stacked in this sequence and then fastened together by four screws
86
.
In the above-described vehicular electronic device, the side walls
12
of the case
91
have a uniform thickness, and the plural brackets
15
are formed integrally on the outer faces of the walls. When the frame
80
is deformed by a collision or the like, therefore, the side walls
12
are sometimes deformed in a region H (see
FIG. 8
) ranging from the root portion of the top plate
5
to the printed circuit board
2
as shown in FIG.
8
. At this time, there is a possibility that the printed circuit board
2
or the components of the vehicular electronic device is damaged (Y of FIG.
8
), or that broken pieces
91
a
of the aluminum die casting due to bending or breakage of the side walls
12
of the case
91
are scattered (X of
FIG. 8
) and fall on the electronic components or the patterns, thereby causing a short circuit.
The invention has been conducted in order to solve the above-discussed problem. It is an object of the invention to maintain functions of a vehicular electronic device even when an impact is applied to a vehicle and the frame
80
is subjected to deformation such as bending or compression. It may be the functions of the vehicle electronic device to be maintained that the acceleration sensor
21
detects the impact and the other electronic component
22
transmits an ignition command to an air bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to attain the object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicular electronic device having a circuit board, a case, a connector, and a bracket. The circuit board performs a predetermined control in a vehicle. The case houses the circuit board. The connector electrically connects the circuit board with an outside. The bracket is formed integrally with the case and attaches the case to the vehicle. The case has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is thicker than the second portion. The second portion continuously extends to the bracket.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the first portion defines space in which the circuit board is housed.
According to a third aspect of the invention, when the case is attached to the vehicle, the first portion is thicker than the second portion in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the circuit board controls an air bag.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5362243 (1994-11-01), Huss et al.
patent: 6188019 (2001-02-01), Baur et al.
patent: 6431884 (2002-08-01), Wallace et al.
patent: 6466447 (2002-10-01), Murowaki et al.
patent: 6493232 (2002-12-01), Skofljanec
patent: 43 00 342 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 2 349 447 (2000-11-01), None
patent: 2000-326788 (2000-11-01), None
patent: B-336595 (1998-07-01), None
patent: WO 00/47451 (2000-08-01), None
Fujitsu Ten Limited
Phan Thanh S.
Sherry Michael
LandOfFree
Vehicular electronic device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicular electronic device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicular electronic device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3261524